Jon Wysocki, an American musician who founded the since-disbanded group It’s Been Awhile and drummer for the bands Staind and SoiL, died on May 18. He was 53 years old. While he had reportedly struggled against problems with his liver in the later years of his life, it is currently unknown what caused his death.
His former band mates in the rock band SoiL paid tribute to their former colleague through their social media presence. A statement issued by the band called Wysocki “one of the greats.” He was, it said, a great drummer and a great friend, but more importantly than that, he was a great human being. Wysocki’s band mates said that they were honored to have worked with him. They recalled the laughter they’d all shared, and said that he would be dearly missed.
Wysocki had also played with the nu-metal group Staind, the Massachusetts rock band which achieved virality when its hit Outside garnered over 134 million views on YouTube. The band also issued a statement commemorating its former drummer. The statement spoke of how Wysocki had met the other members of the band in 1994, and how that meeting led to the founding of the band in April of 1995. The band played together for seventeen years after that. Staind’s statement called those seventeen years some of the best in life, fondly reminiscing about everything from the band’s world tours to its practice sessions in Ludlow before finally offering condolences to Wysocki’s family, as well as the fans around the world who loved his music.
Aaron Lewis, one of Wysocki’s former band mates, said that despite the tensions that caused the drummers departure, he would have gladly welcomed his friend back with open arms at any time. He and Wysocki, Lewis said, was like a brother whse death had left him heartbroken.
Wysocki played with Staind through seven albums, but the fame he garnered left him feeling uncomfortable, leading him to leave the band.
